Guangdong saw a strong tourism surge during China's week-long National Day holiday, with the southern Chinese province recording 62.79 million tourist visits and 58.44 billion yuan (about USD 8.2 billion) in tourism spending, according to preliminary figures released by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province on October 7. On an average daily basis, tourist visits increased 10.1 percent from a year earlier, while tourism spending rose 8.9 percent.
The holiday, which ran from October 1 to October 7, saw particularly strong growth in visitors arriving from outside Guangdong. The province received an estimated 9.95 million visitors from outside the province, up 21.6 percent year on year.
Scenic spots, villages and cultural venues draw millions
Guangdong's diverse tourism offerings attracted visitors across the province, from major scenic areas and historic villages to museums and other cultural institutions.
The province's scenic attractions rated 4A and above received 22.64 million visits during the holiday, an increase of 9.4 percent year on year. Historic and cultural tourism also remained popular. The 14 monitored areas along ancient postal roads recorded 3.42 million visits, while 13 major sites associated with China's revolutionary history welcomed 1.83 million visitors.
Meanwhile, 100 monitored rural tourism sites and historic villages received 2.53 million visits, up 7.4 percent. Another 3.15 million visits were recorded at 100 major public cultural institutions, including museums and cultural venues, representing a 5.2 percent increase.
Nature-based destinations see strong growth
Several destinations known for their natural landscapes and distinctive local culture recorded particularly strong performances.
The counties and districts around Nankun Mountain and Luofu Mountain received 2.62 million visitors, with daily average visits increasing 8.3 percent year on year. Wanlü Lake Scenic Spot in Heyuan alone welcomed 292,000 visitors, with average daily visits jumping 34.5 percent. The coastal city of Zhuhai also saw strong growth, receiving 3.11 million visitors, with average daily visits rising 18.1 percent.
In eastern Guangdong, the four-city Chaoshan Tourism Alliance, comprising Chaozhou, Jieyang, Shantou and Shanwei, recorded 940,000 tourist arrivals from outside the province, with average daily numbers increasing 27.9 percent.
Danxia Mountain sees visitors double
Danxia Mountain in Shaoguan was one of the holiday's standout destinations. From September 5 to October 7, it received 704,000 visitors, up 106.8 percent from the same period last year. Tourism revenue reached 28.23 million yuan, an increase of 79.3 percent.
The seven-day National Day holiday alone brought 340,000 visitors to the scenic area. Average daily visitor numbers nearly doubled year on year, rising 97.3 percent, while tourism revenue reached 17.97 million yuan, up 62.5 percent.
The figures point to continued strong demand for travel across Guangdong, with natural landscapes, cultural heritage, historic sites and rural experiences all contributing to the province's tourism boom.
Reporter | Li Fangwang
Photo | Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province
